SPREAD EAGLE – The Brutal Divine

New York City natives, Spread Eagle, are set to release their fourth studio album. It’s been seven long years since their beautifully written album Subway to the Stars. Every release has shown some sort of evolution from the hard-hitting rockers, but none as much as The Brutal Divine. Long gone are the Hair Metal, high-pitched belted falsettos. We get a new form of vocalist; Ray West seems to have a calming quality to his weathered voice. He gives us, in this raw grittiness, a new tone to accompany the band’s evolving structure.

Instrumentally, the band is still on top of the game; chiseled leads with support from the back end make this album enjoyable in new ways for fans of the group. The group has also evolved into a progressive hard rock unit, with the vibes of such great bands like Babylon A.D. and even Rush in some instances. Is this a new stylistic direction? Or an artistic push of boundaries? Whichever one it is, the fans are in for a ride.

Here for the Evolution

Spread Eagle’s The Brutal Divine shows the band’s most ambitious efforts to date, combining mature songwriting, strong performances, and a willingness to explore new creative spots. The production of the album is an effective balance between modern clarity and organic instrumentation, allowing the album’s riff-driven guitar work to coexist with a rhythm section that remains powerful and audible throughout. Ray West’s vocals are raw with minimal embellishment, giving a weathered quality that complements the album’s darker, more reflective tone. This mature approach extends to the songwriting, particularly on tracks such as “Flat Earth Vultures,” “Gunflower,” “Ant Farm,” and “Makebeliever.” These songs showcase layered arrangements, memorable melodies, and progressive influences that grow on the band’s established foundation.

What distinguishes The Brutal Divine is its willingness to challenge expectations. Rather than relying on the original sound, the band embraces progressive change. The album’s darker atmosphere and more reflective lyrical approach create a sense of maturity that separates it from much of the band’s earlier work. However, the album’s ambition occasionally works against its cohesion. Punk-oriented tracks such as “Street Noise,” “Jail Rat,” and “Inside a Shrunken Head” introduce shifts that contrast with the stronger progressive material surrounding them. As a result, The Brutal Divine occasionally struggles to connect.

Nevertheless, the album’s willingness to evolve, coupled with its strong musicianship, thoughtful production, and adventurous songwriting, makes it a compelling and rewarding addition to Spread Eagle’s catalog that demonstrates meaningful artistic growth while hinting at an even stronger direction for future releases.

The Final Verdict

The Brutal Divine by Spread Eagle is an excellent example of coming out of the creative box. With the foundation set, now it is time to see what these walls can make. The strengths of the album are in its subtle progressive expressions, while the spots where the group took the hard left in genre blending may be too off-putting a change. These are the only complaints since the album is genuinely a great listen. This album can be enjoyed by new and old fans alike, giving it a solid 7.1. The band still has room to grow, and maybe just maybe we can get that fully progressive album that could very well change the trajectory of Spread Eagle.

Album Tracklist

1. Flat Earth Vultures
2. Street Noise
3. Gunflower
4. Jail Rat
5. Forbidden Local Honey
6. Pushed to the Limit
7. Ant Farm
8. Scars in Our Eyes (City Kids)
9. Inside a Shrunken Head
10. Makebeliever

Band Lineup

• Ray West – Lead Vocals
• Gianmaria “Jommy” Puledda – Guitars and Vocals
• Rob De Luca – Bass and Vocals
• Rik De Luca – Drums

Go check out the official music video for “Ant Farm” by Spread Eagle: